swarm

1 of 3

noun

1
a
: a great number of honeybees emigrating together from a hive in company with a queen to start a new colony elsewhere
b
: a colony of honeybees settled in a hive
2
a
: a large number of animate or inanimate things massed together and usually in motion : throng
swarms of sightseers
a swarm of locusts
a swarm of meteors
b
: a number of similar geologic features or phenomena close together in space or time
a swarm of dikes
an earthquake swarm

swarm

2 of 3

verb (1)

swarmed; swarming; swarms

intransitive verb

1
: to form and depart from a hive in a swarm
2
a
: to move or assemble in a crowd : throng
b
: to hover about in the manner of a bee in a swarm
3
: to contain a swarm : teem
swarming with bugs

transitive verb

1
: to fill with a swarm
2
: to beset or surround in a swarm
players swarming the quarterback
swarmer noun

swarm

3 of 3

verb (2)

swarmed; swarming; swarms

intransitive verb

: to climb with the hands and feet
specifically : shin
swarm up a pole

transitive verb

: to climb up : mount

Examples of swarm in a Sentence

Noun a swarm of tourists descends upon the island every summer Verb (1) meeting little resistance, the pirates swarmed the decks of the merchant ship at this time of year that Mexican resort swarms with college students on spring break Verb (2) one of the physical challenges had competitors swarming over a pile of logs
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The swarm is the most significant since the sleeping giant last erupted in 2014. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025 In addition to large-scale data theft, economic disruption, and intelligence breaches, quantum computers could be used for malicious purposes such as simulating and synthesizing chemical weapons or optimizing the flight trajectories of a swarm of drones. Charina Chou, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
Officers swarmed his truck and made the arrest in just minutes. Brooke Taylor, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2025 Iraq war veteran Marlon Parris had left his home in Laveen, Arizona, on the morning of Jan. 22 when he was swarmed by a half-dozen black SUVs. Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swarm

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English swearm; akin to Old High German swaram swarm and probably to Latin susurrus hum

Verb (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of swarm was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Swarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swarm. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

swarm

1 of 2 noun
1
: a great number of honeybees leaving together from a hive with a queen to start a new colony elsewhere
also : a colony of honeybees settled in a hive
2
: a large number grouped together and usually in motion
swarms of sightseers
a swarm of meteors

swarm

2 of 2 verb
1
: to form and leave a hive in a swarm
2
: to move or gather in a swarm : throng
spectators swarmed into the stadium
3
: to contain or fill with a swarm

More from Merriam-Webster on swarm

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